World Cup qualifiers: Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso questions format with Azzurri needing 9-0 win over Norway to avoid play-offs - 'System needs change'

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Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has called on FIFA to rethink the World Cup qualification process after the four-time world champions were left facing the extraordinary task of needing a 9-0 victory against Norway on Sunday to avoid the European play-offs for the third successive campaign. Italy missed out on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments after play-off defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia.

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Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has called on FIFA to overhaul the 2026 World Cup qualification process after the four-time world champions find themselves needing a staggering 9-0 victory against Norway on Sunday to avoid a place in the European play-offs for the third consecutive campaign.

The Azzurri secured a sixth win in seven Group I matches with a 2-0 victory over Moldova in Chisinau on Thursday night.

Yet with group leaders Norway unbeaten in seven games - including a 3-0 win over Italy - their superior goal difference means Stale Solbakken's side must be beaten by nine clear goals in Milan this weekend for Italy to reach the World Cup.

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Currently ranked ninth in the FIFA world rankings, Italy missed out on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments after play-off defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia.

Europe is awarded 16 qualification places in the 48-team World Cup, but with play-offs looming once again, Gattuso believes the system is in need of reform.

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"In my day, the best [group] runners-up went straight to the World Cup; now the rules have changed," Gattuso said. "To change the rules, you need to tell those who organise these tournaments.

"Italy's record of six wins [in qualification]? You'd have to ask the people who make the groups and the rules.

"In 1990 and 1994, there were two African [three qualified in 1994] teams; now there are nine. It's not a controversy, but there are difficulties, and we know it well.

"If we look at South America, where six out of 10 teams go directly to the World Cup and the seventh heads into a playoff with a team from Oceania, that does give you regrets and a certain sadness.

"That is the disappointment. The system needs to change in Europe."

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How has World Cup qualifying changed?

Unlike during Gattuso's time as a player, now the 12 group winners qualify directly for the tournament, while the remaining four spots will be decided through play-offs involving the 12 runners-up.

These runners-up will be joined by the four highest-ranked group winners from the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League who did not finish in first or second place in their European Qualifiers group.

The 16 play-off teams are then drawn into four separate paths, each containing four sides. Matches will be played as single-leg semi-finals, followed by single-leg finals, all within the same international window in March 2026 - a fate which is now likely to befall the Italians.

Italy's players faced boos and negative chants from around 400 traveling supporters in Moldova after taking 88 minutes to break down the group minnows.

Gattuso, who replaced Luciano Spalletti in June following the opening defeat to Norway, defended his squad against the criticism.

"This is not the time to tell the players to go get a job," he said. "Honestly, I don't accept the fans' jeering.

"Now we all need to stay united. Deep down, I even thought they could lose this match considering how much we've changed [due to injuries], but those who came on did well."

The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, with the opening game to be played in Mexico City.

The World Cup final takes place on July 19 and will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Who has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

Hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States were the first three teams to qualify, via an automatic berth, but over the coming months, we will see more and more teams confirm their place in the finals.

Uzbekistan and Jordan have made history by reaching the World Cup for the very first time through the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualification process.

Read the full list of nations to have booked their place at the 2026 World Cup here.

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